Designing Online Discussion Boards
Seminar Room 6.30, Level 6, FBE Building, 111 Barry Street, Parkville
"Designing Online Discussion Boards"
Online discussion boards provide an area for students to build deeper understandings of subjects through collegial discourse. Literature examining the impact of such asynchronous communication among university students supports this claim. While this is promising given the need for flexible delivery modes, understanding the different types of asynchronous interactions that can occur through discussion boards is key to their successful use.
This session will benefit those wishing to use a discussion board in a way which aligns to their subject’s learning outcomes and which fosters a sense of community among students. Various options regarding the choice of discussion boards available to FBE academics and students will also be discussed.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:
- Determine the type of asynchronous interactions that would benefit their students
- Critically consider the various discussion boards available
- Develop strategies which foster meaningful asynchronous discussions among students
Facilitator
Miriam Edwards is an Educational Designer at the Williams Centre for Learning Advancement. She is also a doctoral candidate at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Miriam has extensive experience in higher education which includes teaching, curriculum renewal and subject design. Her research interests are in designing online courses which are both innovative and accessible to students with diverse needs.